MORNING Star readers and supporters in Wales held a successful conference in Cardiff at the weekend, agreeing that left unity and community organising are essential to combat Reform UK at the 2026 Senedd elections.

Unison Cymru Wales and Unite Wales jointly sponsored this newspaper’s first conference in Wales, at which four panels discussed the economy, peace and internationalism, equality and trade unions setting the agenda.

The discussion was given greater urgency by Reform’s victory in a Torfaen council by-election last Thursday, when it took the seat from Labour by 457 votes to 259.

Star editor Ben Chacko told the conference that using old-fashioned organising tactics in local communities would be key to combating Reform and persuading voters to support progressive alternatives.

“If a lot of the appeal of the far right stems from this idea that people have lost control of their communities, then I think the way to begin rebuilding is engagement at the local level,” he said.

Pasty Turner of Unite Wales argued that exposing Reform and its leader Nigel Farage as Thatcherites would help convince the Welsh electorate not to vote for the party.

“I always say to people thinking of voting Reform that they are voting for Margaret Thatcher and the continuation of the policies that laid waste to Wales,” he said.

Unison’s Jess Turner said the union had done a lot of work on exposing the billions of pounds being lost to the Welsh economy, with public money going to private equity companies operating in the care sector.

“We need a holistic look at the future of public services in Wales underscored by the removal of profit as a core principle,” she said.

Plaid Cymru’s Luke Fletcher said he understood why people were turning to Reform as they felt that politics had not delivered for them.

“We have forgotten how to speak to our communities and what is important to them,” he said.

Left-wing former MP Beth Winter said that the last 40 years of neoliberalism had failed Wales and that people felt abandoned and disillusioned.

Welsh Labour Senedd member Jenny Rathbone said: “The Torfaen by-election win for Reform should act as a wake-up call, as my party had taken its core vote for granted.

“Our absence in our communities has left space for Reform to fill.”

*The conference raised £200 for the paper in donations and sales.